Loci Communes Theologici:The Common Places of DivinityAs set forth by Mr. Patrick Hamilton.[Probably written in 1526.]

A Brief Treatise of Mr. Patrick Hamilton, translated
into English by John Frith; with the Epistle of the said Frith prefixed
before the same, as followeth:

JOHN FRITH UNTO THE
CHRISTIAN READER.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in these last
days and perilous times, hath stirred up in all countries, witnesses unto
his Son, to testify the truth unto the unfaithful, to save at the least
some from the snares of Antichrist, which lead to perdition, as ye may
here perceive by that excellent and well learned young man PATRIKE
HAMELTON, born in Scotland of a noble progeny; who
to testify the truth, sought all means, and took upon him Priesthood, (even
as Paul circumcised Timothy, to win the weak Jews,) that he might be admitted
to preach the pure word of God. Notwithstanding, as soon as the Chamberlain
[Chancellor] and other Bishops of Scotland had perceived that the light
began to shine, which disclosed their falsehood that they conveyed in darkness,
they laid hands on him, and because he would not deny his Saviour Christ
at their instance, they burnt him to ashes. Nevertheless, God of his bounteous
mercy (to publish to the whole world what a man these monsters have murdered)
hath reserved a little Treatise, made by this Patrick, which, if ye list
[desire], ye may call PATRIK'S PLACES:
For it treateth exactly of certain Common Places, which known, ye have
the pith of all Divinity. This Treatise have I turned into the English
tongue, to the profit of my nation; to whom I beseech God to give light,
that they may espy the deceitful paths of perdition, and return to the
right way which leadeth to life everlasting. Amen.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE
LAW.

The Law is a doctrine that biddeth good, and forbiddeth
evil, as the Commandments here contained do specify:

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Thou shalt worship but one God.

Thou shalt make thee none image to worship it.

Thou shalt not swear by his name in vain.

Hold the Sabbath day holy.

Honour thy father and mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt bear no false witness.

Thou shalt not desire ought that belongeth unto thy neighbour.

All these Commandments are briefly comprised in these two
here under ensuing:"Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Deut. 6.)"This is the first and great
commandment. The second is like unto this, Love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matth. 12.)

CERTAIN GENERAL
PROPOSITIONS PROVED BY THE SCRIPTURE.

I. He that loveth God, loveth his neighbour."If any man
say, I love God, and yet hateth his neighbour, he is a liar: He that loveth
not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not
seen?" (1 John 4.)

II. He that loveth his neighbour as himself, keepeth the
whole commandments of God."Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto
you, even so do unto them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matth.
7.)He that loveth his neighbour fulfilleth the law. "Thou shalt not commit
adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbour: Thou shalt not desire; and so forth:
And if there be any other commandment, all are comprehended under this
saying, Love thy neighbour as thyself." (Rom. 13; Gal. 5.)

"He that loveth his neighbour, keepeth all the commandments
of God." "He that loveth God, loveth his neighbour." (Rom. 13; 1 John 4.)Ergo,
he that loveth God, keepeth all his commandments.

III. He that hath the faith, loveth God."My father loveth
you, because ye love me, and believe that I came of God." (John 19.)He
that hath the faith, keepeth all the commandments of God. He that hath
the faith, loveth God; and he that loveth God, keepeth all the commandments
of God.Ergo, he that hath faith, keepeth all the commandments of God.

IV. He that keepeth one commandment, keepeth them all."For
without faith it is impossible to keep any of the commandments of God."And
he that hath the faith, keepeth all the commandments of God.Ergo, he that
keepeth one commandment of God, keepeth them all.

V. He that keepeth not all the commandments of God, he
keepeth none of them.He that keepeth one of the commandments, he keepeth
all.Ergo, he that keepeth not all the commandments, he keepeth none of
them.

VI. It is not in our power, without grace, to keep any
of God's commandments.Without grace it is impossible to keep any of God's
commandments; and grace is not in our power.Ergo, it is not in our power
to keep any of the commandments of God.

Even so may ye reason concerning the Holy Ghost, and faith.

VII. The law was given to show us our sin."By the law
cometh the knowledge of sin. I knew not what sin meant, but through the
law. I knew not what lust had meant, except the law had said, Thou shalt
not lust. Without the law, sin was dead:" that is, It moved me not, neither
wist [knew] I that it was sin, which notwithstanding was sin, and
forbidden by the law.

VIII. The law biddeth us do that which is impossible for
us.For it biddeth us keep all the commandments of God: yet it is not in
our power to keep any of them.Ergo, it biddeth us do that which is impossible
for us.

Thou wilt say, "Wherefore doth God command us that which
is impossible for us." I answer, "To make thee know that thou art but evil,
and that there is no remedy to save thee in thine own hand, and that thou
mayest seek remedy at some other; for the law doth nothing but command
thee."

THE DOCTRINE OF THE
GOSPEL.

The Gospel, is as much to say, in our tongue, as Good
Tidings: like as every one of these sentences be

Christ is the Saviour of the world.Christ is our Saviour.Christ died for us.Christ died for our sins.Christ offered himself for us.Christ bear our sins upon his back.Christ bought us with his blood.Christ wash us with his blood.Christ came in the world to save sinners.Christ came in the world to take away our sins.Christ was the price that was given for us and for our
sins.Christ was made debtor for our sins.Christ hath paid our debt, for he died for us.Christ hath made satisfaction for us and for our sin.Christ is our righteousness.Christ is our wisdom.Christ is our sanctification.Christ is our redemption.Christ is our satisfaction.Christ is our goodness.Christ hath pacified the Father of Heaven.Christ is ours, and all his.Christ hath delivered us from the law, from the devil,
and hell.The Father of Heaven hath forgiven us for Christ's sake.

Or any such other, as declare unto us the mercies of God.

THE NATURE AND
OFFICE OF THE LAW, AND OF THE
GOSPEL.

The Law showeth us, Our sin. Our condemnation, Is the word
of ire. Is the word
of despair. Is the word
of displeasure.

The Gospel showeth us, A remedy for
it. Our redemption, Is the word
of grace. Is the word
of comfort. Is the word
of peace.

The Gospel saith, Christ hath paid it. Thy sins are forgiven thee. Be of good comfort, thou shalt be
saved.

The Law saith, Make amends for thy sin. The Father of Heaven is wrath with
thee. Where is thy righteousness, goodness,
and satisfaction? Thou art bound and obliged unto me,
to the devil, and to hell.

The Gospel saith, Christ hath made it for thee. Christ hath pacified him with his
blood. Christ is thy righteousness, thy goodness,
and satisfaction. Christ hath delivered thee from them
all.

THE DOCTRINE OF
FAITH.

Faith is to believe God; "like as Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Gen. 15.)"He that believed
God, believed his word." (John 5.)To believe in him, is to believe his
word, and account it true that he speaketh. He that believeth not God's
word, believeth not himself. He that believeth not God's word, he counteth
him false, and a liar, and believeth not that he may and will fulfill his
word; and so he denieth both the might of God and himself.

IX. Faith is the gift of God."Every good thing is the
gift of God." (James 1.) Faith is good.Ergo, faith is the gift of God.

X. [Faith is not in our power.]The gift of God is not
in our power."Faith is the gift of God."Ergo, faith is not in our power.

XI. [He that lacketh faith cannot please God.]"Without
faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11)All that cometh not of
faith, is sin; for without faith can no man please God.Besides, that he
that lacketh faith, he trusteth not God. He that trusteth not God, trusteth
not in his word. He that trusteth not in his word, holdeth himself false,
and a liar. He that holdeth himself false and a liar, he believeth not
that he may do that he promiseth, and so denieth he that he is God. And
how can a man, being of this fashion, please him? No manner of way. Yea,
suppose he did all the work of man and angel.

XII. All that is done in faith, pleaseth God."Right is
the word of God, and all his works in faith." "Lord, thine eyes look to
faith." That is asmuch as to say as, Lord, thou delightest in faith. God
loveth him that believeth in him. How can they then displease him?

XIII. He that hath the faith, is just and good.And a
good tree bringeth forth good fruit.Ergo, all that is in faith done pleaseth
God.

XIV. [He that hath faith, and believeth God, cannot displease
him.]Moreover, he that hath the faith believeth God.He that believeth
God, believeth his word. He that believeth his word, wotteth [knoweth]
well that he is true and faithful, and may not lie: But knoweth well that
he may and will both fulfill his word. How can he then displease him? For
thou canst not do any greater honour unto God, than to count him true.
Thou wilt then say, that theft, murder, adultery, and all vices please
God? Nay, verily; for they can not be done in faith: "for a good tree beareth
good fruit." He that hath the faith wotteth well that he pleaseth God;
for all that is done in faith pleaseth God. (Heb. 11.)

XV. Faith is a sureness."Faith is a sure confidence of
things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen."
(Heb. 11.)"The same spirit certifieth our spirit that we are the children
of God." (Rom. 8.)Moreover, he that hath the faith, wotteth well that
God will fulfill his word.Ergo, faith is a sureness.

A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY
FAITH.

"Abraham believeth God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness." "We suppose therefore that a man is justified (saith the
Apostle) without the works of the law." (Rom. 4.)"He that worketh not,
but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
unto him for righteousness." "The just man liveth by faith." (Hab. 2; Rom.
1.)"We wot, that a man that is justified, is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, and not by the deeds of the
law."

OF THE FAITH OF
CHRIST.

The faith of Christ is, to believe in him; that is, to
believe his word, and to believe that he will help thee in all thy need,
and deliver thee from evil. Thou wilt ask me, What word? I answer, the
Gospel. "He that believeth on Christ shall be saved." "He that believeth
the Son hath eternal life." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth
on me hath everlasting life." (John 6.)"This I write unto you, that believing
in the name of the Son of God, ye may know that ye have eternal life."
(1 John 5.)"Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou believest; but happy
are they that have not seen, and yet believe in me." "All the Prophets
to him bear witness, that whosoever believeth in him shall have remission
of their sins." (Acts 10.)"What must I do that I may be saved?" The Apostle
answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
"If thou acknowledge with the mouth, that Jesus is the Lord, and believe
in thine heart that God raised him up from the death, thou shalt be saved."
(Rom. 10.)"He that believeth not in Christ shall be condemned." "He that
believeth not the Son shall never see life; but the ire of God abideth
upon him." (John 3.)"The Holy Ghost shall reprove the world of sin, because
they believe not in me." "They that believe in Jesus Christ are the sons
of God." Ye are all the sons of God, because ye believe in Jesus Christ.

He that believeth in Christ the Son of God is saved. (Gal.
3.)"Peter said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered
and said unto him, Happy art thou, Simon, the son of Jonas; for flesh and
blood hath not opened unto thee that, but my Father which is in heaven."
(Matt. 16.)"We have believed and known that thou art Christ the Son of
the living God." "I believe that thou art Christ the Son of the living
God, which should come into the world." "These things are written that
ye might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that in believing
ye might have life. I believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God."
(John 9.)

XVI. He that believeth God, believeth the Gospel.He that
believeth God, believeth his Word:And the Gospel is his Word. Therefore
he that believeth God, believeth his Gospel. As Christ is the Saviour of
the world, Christ is our Saviour. Christ bought us with his blood. Christ
wash us with his blood. Christ offered himself for us. Christ bear our
sins upon his back.

XVII. He that believeth not the Gospel, believeth not
God.He that believeth not God's Word believeth not himself:And the Gospel
is God's Word.Ergo, he that believeth not the Gospel believeth not God
himself; and consequently they that believe not as is above written, and
such other, believe not God.

XVIII. He that believeth the Gospel, shall be saved."Go
ye into all the world and preach the Gospel unto every creature: He that
believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be condemned."

A COMPARISON BETWIXT FAITH
AND INCREDULITY.

Faith is the root of all good: Maketh God and man friends. Bringeth God and man together.

Incredulity is the root of all evil: Maketh them deadly foes. Bringeth them sundry.

All that proceeds from Faith pleaseth God.All that proceedeth from Incredulity displeaseth God.

Faith only maketh a man good and righteous.Incredulity maketh him unjust and evil.

Faith only maketh a man, The member of Christ; The inheritor of heaven; The servant of God.

Faith showeth God to be a sweet Father.

Faith holdeth stiff by the Word of God: Counteth God to
be true.

Faith knoweth God: Loveth God and his neighbour.

Faith only saveth: Extolleth God and his works.

Incredulity maketh him, The member of the devil; The inheritor of hell; The servant of the devil.

Incredulity maketh God a terrible Judge: It causeth man
wander here and there: Maketh him false and a liar.

Hope is a trusty looking for of things that are promised
to come unto us: as we hope the everlasting joy which Christ hath promised
unto all that believe on him. We should put our hope and trust in God only,
and no other thing. "It is good to trust in God, and not in man." "He that
trusteth in his own heart, he is a fool." "It is good to trust in God,
and not in princes." (Psalm 117.)"They shall be like unto images that
make them, and all that trust in them." He that trusteth in his own thoughts
doeth ungodly. "Cursed be he that trusteth in man." "Bid the rich men of
this world, that they trust not in their unstable riches, but that they
trust in the living God." "It is hard for them that trust in money to enter
in the kingdom of God." Moreover, we should trust in him only, that may
help us: [God only can help us.]Ergo, we should trust in him only. Well
is them that trust in God: and woe to them that trust him not. "Well is
the man that trusts in God; for God shall be his trust." He that trusteth
in him shall understand the truth. "They shall all rejoice that trust in
thee: they shall all ever be glad; and thou wilt defend them."

OF CHARITY.

Charity is the love of thy neighbour. The rule of charity
is to do as thou wouldest were done unto thee: for charity esteemeth all
alike; the rich and the poor; the friend and the foe; the thankful and
the unthankful; the kinsman and stranger.

A COMPARISON BETWIXT FAITH,
HOPE, AND CHARITY.

Faith cometh of the word of God: Hope cometh of faith;
and Charity springs of them both.

Faith believes the word: Hope trusteth after that which
is promised by the word: and Charity doth good unto her neighbour, through
the love that such hath to God, and gladness that is within herself.

Faith looketh to God and his word: Hope looketh unto his
gift and reward: Charity looketh unto her neighbour's profit.

Faith receiveth God: Hope receiveth his reward: Charity
looketh to her neighbour with a glad heart, and that without any respect
of reward.

Faith pertaineth to God only: Hope to his reward, and
Charity to her neighbour.

THE DOCTRINE OF
GOOD WORKS.

No manner of works make us righteous:"We believe that
a man shall be justified without works." (Gal. 3.)"No man is justified
by the deeds of the law; but by the faith of Jesus Christ. And we believe
in Jesus Christ, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not
by the deeds of the law. If righteousness came by the law, then Christ
died in vain." That no man is justified by the law, it is manifest: for
a righteous man liveth by his faith; but the law is not of faith. Moreover,
since Christ, the maker of heaven and earth, and all that therein is, behoved
to die for us; we are compelled to grant, that we were so far drowned in
sin, that neither our deeds, nor all the treasures that ever God made,
or might make, might have help us out of them: Ergo, no deeds nor works
may make us righteous.

No works make us unrighteous.For if any work made us
unrighteous, then the contrary works would make us righteous. But it is
proven, that no works can make us righteous: Ergo, no works make us unrighteous.

WORKS MAKEUS
NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL.

It is proven, that works neither make us righteous nor
unrighteous: Ergo, no works neither make us good nor evil. For righteous
and good are one thing, and unrighteous and evil, one. Good works make
not a good man, nor evil works an evil man: But a good man maketh good
works, and an evil man evil works. Good fruit maketh not the tree good,
nor evil fruit the tree evil: But a good tree beareth good fruit, and an
evil tree evil fruit. A good man can not do evil works, nor an evil man
good works; for an evil tree can not bear good fruit, nor a good tree evil
fruit. A man is good before he do good works, and an evil man is evil before
he do evil works; for the tree is good before it bear good fruit, and evil
before it bear evil fruit. Every man is either good or evil. Either make
the tree good, and the fruit good also, or else make the tree evil, and
the fruit likewise evil. Every man's works are either good or evil: for
all fruits are either good or evil. "Either make the tree good and the
fruit also, or else make the tree evil and the fruit of it likewise evil."
(Matth. 13.)A good man is known by his works; for a good man doeth good
works, and an evil, evil works. "Ye shall know them by their fruit; for
a good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and an evil tree evil fruit." (Matth.
7.)A man is likened to the tree, and his works to the fruit of the tree.
"Beware of the false prophets, which come unto you in sheep's clothing;
but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."

NONE OF OUR WORKS
NEITHER SAVE US, NOR CONDEMN
US.

It is proven, that no works make us either righteous or
unrighteous, good nor evil: but first we are good before that we do good
works, and evil before we do evil works: Ergo, no work neither save us
nor condemn us. Thou wilt say then, Maketh it no matter what we do? I answer
thee, Yes; for if thou doest evil, it is a sure argument that thou art
evil, and wantest faith. If thou do good, it is an argument that thou art
good and hast faith; for a good tree beareth good fruit, and an evil tree
evil fruit. Yet good fruit maketh not the tree good, nor evil fruit the
tree evil. So that man is good before he do good works, and evil before
he do evil works.

The man is the tree: the works are the fruit. Faith maketh
the good tree: Incredulity the evil tree. Such a tree, such a fruit: such
man, such works. For all that is done in faith pleaseth God, and are good
works; and all that is done without faith displeaseth God, and are evil
works. Whosoever thinketh to be saved by his works, denieth Christ is our
Saviour, that Christ died for him, and, finally, all things that belongeth
to Christ. For how is he thy Saviour, if thou mightest save thyself by
thy works? Or to what end should he have died for thee, if any works of
thine might have saved thee? What is this to say, Christ died for thee?
It is not that thou shouldest have died perpetually, and that Christ, to
deliver thee from death, died for thee, and changed thy perpetual death
in his own death. For thou madest the fault, and he suffered the pain,
and that for the love he had to thee, before ever thou wast born, when
thou hadst done neither good nor evil. Now, since he hath paid thy debt,
thou diest not: no, thou canst not, but shouldest have been damned, if
his death were not. But since he was punished for thee, thou shalt not
be punished. Finally, he hath delivered thee from thine condemnation, and
desireth nought of thee, but that thou shouldest acknowledge what he hath
done for thee, and bear it in mind; and that thou wouldest help other for
his sake, both in word and deed, even as he hath helped thee for nought,
and without reward. O how ready would we be to help others, if we knew
his goodness and gentleness towards us! He is a good and a gentle Lord,
and he doeth all things for nought. Let us, I beseech you, follow his footsteps,
whom all the world ought to praise and worship. Amen.

HE THAT THINKETH TO BE
SAVED BY HIS WORKS, CALLETH
HIMSELF CHRIST:

For he calleth himself a Saviour, which appertaineth to
Christ only. What is a Saviour, but he that saveth? And thou sayest, I
save myself; which is asmuch to say as, I am Christ, for Christ is only
the Saviour of the world.

We should do no good works, for that intent to get the
inheritance of heaven, or remission of sins through them. For whosoever
believeth to get the inheritance of heaven or remission of sins, through
works, he believeth not to get that for Christ's sake. And they that believe
not, that their sins are forgiven them, and that they shall be saved for
Christ's sake, they believe not the Gospel; for the Gospel saith, You shall
be saved for Christ's sake: sins are forgiven you, for Christ's sake.

He that believeth not the Gospel, believeth not God. And
consequently, they which believe to be saved by their works, or to get
remission of sins by their own deeds, believe not God, but account him
a liar, and so utterly deny him to be God. Thou wilt say, Shall we then
do no good works? I say not so, but I say, We should do no good works for
the intent to get the kingdom of heaven, or remission of sins. For if we
believe to get the inheritance of heaven through good works, then we believe
not to get it through the promise of God. Or, if we think to get remission
of our sins, as said is, we believe not that they are forgiven us by Christ,
and so we count God a liar. For God saith, Thou shalt have the inheritance
of heaven for my Son's sake. You say, It is not so; but I will win it through
my own works. So, I condemn not good works; but I condemn the false trust
in any works; for all the works that a man putteth confidence in, are therewith
intoxicate or empoisoned, and become evil. Wherefore, do good works; but
beware thou do them to get any good through them; for if thou do, thou
receivest the good, not as the gift of God, but as debt unto thee, and
makest thyself fellow with God, because thou wilt take nothing from him
for nought. What needeth he anything of thine, who giveth all things, and
is not the poorer? Therefore do nothing to him, but take of him; for he
is a gentle Lord, and with a gladder heart will give us all things that
we need, than we take it of him. So that if we want anything, let us wit
[blame] ourselves. Press not then to the inheritance of heaven,
through presumption of thy good works; for if thou do, thou countest thyself
holy and equal unto him, because thou wilt take nothing of him for nought;
and so shalt thou fall as Lucifer fell from heaven for his pride.